More stupid unicorn tricks:
Juul under fire for popularizing vaping with kids, even as deaths from vaping rise. Apparently more than a million more school children were vaping in 2018 vs just a year ago - a 70% increase to 3.6 million.
To put this in perspective, there are 15m kids in high school. The actual numbers who vape may be even higher.
Altria put in 90%+ of the $13b that Juul raises, interesting to see how this plays out.

Posted by: C1ue | Sep 24 2019 17:04 utc | 301

dh | Sep 24 2019 16:14 utc | 322:

Inaction of a leader on a subordinate usually means either two things: clandestine support or fear of the benefactor.   More likely Trudeau is afraid of Freeland's benefactor(s).   I doubt Ukrainian Canadians have much impact on the political landscape especially from Alberta.   From my limited knowledge of Canadian politics, Alberta have always been anti-Trudeau because of some policy that his father supported back in the 80s(???).   Albertans will never vote for Liberals especially anyone from the Trudeau family   Also, Alberta have little impact when compared to Ontario and Quebec.   One can still win the election with no support from Western Canada.

Posted by: Ian2 | Sep 24 2019 17:14 utc | 302

Karlof1 I'm but a layman but I've looked a bit at it now, I didn't study it extensively but it looked very conservative compared to what I'm used to seeing. Many would like that since there is a lot of hype but they need to watch out for "negative" confirmation bias as well. Whether it is more correct or less I can't say (I'll share my bias though). It could stay "correct" for a very long time but still be completely wrong.

However for comparison one can consider two different takes (both far less conservative):

1. The first is two other "laws" that have been coined called Rose's law (named by Steve Jurvetson) and Neven's law. Both seem to me to be more or less the same idea of scaling based on double exponential* functions since a doubling of qubits is meant to result in a doubly exponential increase in capability (or perhaps more).

Both of these predict something like twelve years from "getting it right" (whatever that turns out to be) to "out-computing the universe" where the (still comparatively tiny) quantum computer is more capable than a classical computer created from the entirety of all known matter in the universe (in turn only about 4 to 5 % of the actual universe: important to remember that there are still some mighty big dragons out there**).

2. The second is entirely different but much more radical (but perhaps more likely than the other two, that's only my gut feeling). People still argue if anyone really has unlocked the potential of quantum computing. Most common are the complaints against "quantum annealing" and next most common is the talk about error correction and complexity of design and related issues. However if on the basis of this one concludes that all currently known approaches are flawed it also allows the idea that someone could find entirely new approaches which avoid or solve these issues. If that happens one can throw all those "laws" straight out of the window because the immediate jumps in capability would be far larger than doubly exponential since any such solutions would be almost incomparably more elegant and efficient (claims of such are the mainstay of research press releases, the proof will be in the pudding and so far there's been no pudding (at least publicly, would whoever ever tell?)).

Will any of this turn out to be right? Impossible for me to say :) and of course there are all sorts of other crazy ideas bobbing about that could blow any of it out of the water.

Anyways as a conclusion of sorts all of this is a good illustration why the "rumored"/retracted paper could have been an interesting read (whether one believes whatever it says to be genuine or not should be a separate matter).

The stakes can easily be extremely high, even for quantum annealing/Dwave/Google/Alphabet/Lockheed limited to ASIC-like functionality.

* Some make a joke out of the trajectories of exponential and doubly exponential functions: the lead-ups are as incredibly slow and minute in improvements as the latter stages are incredibly impressive. This makes it excellent material for "physicist cons", explaining away non-existent results, and rescuing disappointing physics papers or twisting dissertations into wild successes or whatever you want: simply claim double, triple, quadruple exponentiation! Better than statistics but can be combined with that as well, make those numbers lie! :D

(In addition there's the universal language abuse of "exponential" as a synonym for "rapidly changing on an order of self-doubling" when instead the exponent can be any value including very small and negative ones)

** I don't often agree with or bother with New Scientist (far too political, even worse than Scientific American) but the recent 4th of September 2019 leader sums it up nicely (this is the first paragraph):

"Fundamental physics is in a funk. Its guiding programme, to explain things by inventing ever more particles, has stalled, leaving 95.4 per cent of the stuff in the universe – the provinces of dark matter and dark energy – unexplained. What is more, the underlying theory of microscopic reality that physics serves up, quantum theory, presents reality in a form no one can get their heads round. Oh, and quantum theory doesn’t play ball with the other big theory of modern physics, Einstein’s general relativity."

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 24 2019 17:28 utc | 303

Ian 2 @ 328

Apparently the Liberal Government was only too happy to pick up the reins from the Harper Government with the UCC.

"After the coup d’état in Kiev in February 2014 the UCC lobbied the then Conservative government under Stephen Harper to support the Ukrainian “regime change” operation which had been conducted by the United States and European Union. The UCC president, Paul Grod, took the lead in obtaining various advantages from the Harper government, including arms for the putschist regime in Kiev. It survives only through massive EU and US direct or indirect financial/political support and through armed backing from fascist militias who repress dissent by force and intimidation. Mr. Grod claims that Russia is pursuing a policy of “aggression” against the Ukraine. If that were true, the putschists in Kiev would have long ago disappeared. The Harper government allowed fund raising for Pravyi Sektor, a Ukrainian fascist paramilitary group, through two organisations in Canada including the UCC, and even accorded “charitable status” to one of them to facilitate their fund raising and arms buying. Harper also sent military “advisors” to train Ukrainian forces, the backbone of which are fascist militias. The Trudeau government has continued that policy. “Canada should prepare for Russian attempts to destabilize its democracy,” according to Minister Freeland: "

Posted by: arby | Sep 24 2019 17:28 utc | 304

somebody@300:

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 23 2019 18:57 utc | 242

You are stating a wrong dichotomy.

What is the cause of war? People fighting for resources. If there is more - this time existential - scarcity, then wars will grow.

Reducing drought and scarcity of water reduces the risk of war.

People stopping to buy stuff will stop capitalism. Green technology will be the last wave.

Posted by: somebody | Sep 24 2019 11:18 utc | 300

I have put your post in its entirety for two reasons. First, Sasha has not stated a dichotomy at #242, but rather s/he has said: "...what most will contribute to stop, not only climate change, but also the spiral of violence..." which I think is an excellent point that ought to be emphasized for our youth much more than persuasive rhetoric.

My second point is that the rest of your post has merit as well. And as it came at the bottom of the previous page, I wanted folk coming to the final page to see it.

We need to stop talking at cross purposes and listen, really listen, to what each of us has to contribute. I think the ptb fear lest these two groups consolidate their arguments, the anti war and the climate change groups. They are indeed one group very concerned about the state of the planet which we are leaving to our children. And if both can't be accommodated in the dialogue going forward, the dividers will have won again. Sasha is right to be alarmed; that's what they indeed are attempting to do!

Posted by: juliania | Sep 24 2019 17:31 utc | 305

On Trump with respect to his efforts to drain the swamp, I would say that the jury is still out, though it is almost ready to enter the courtroom. For those like Hoarsewhisperer, there is a thread of hope, which is founded on the fact of the huge monopolistic power both party regimes wield. Trump still, if he wants to be effective in office, has to navigate the shoals of the coming election. So far, with the Democrats pursuing their neoliberal dreams, he has successfully fought off impeachment, which had been their goal from the start of his term. What he now must count on is that those same Democrats will see to it that Sanders does not get the nomination. (If that happens, all bets are off; I think Sanders wins in a no-contest type tidal wave.)

But Trump has the same sort of hardened into concrete opposition in his own party. People he's had to placate; people he's had to sound like. So, even if you don't believe this, just know there's an argument that can be made, a reasonable argument, that to survive in office and be the coming candidate, Trump has to sound like them.

We'll know soon enough. The mountain he has to climb is the election. If he makes it to the top we'll finally know who he really is.

I'll just add: Some are denigrating the UN. Just know that the forces working for the world, for its people, for the planet, have the UN to work in and make better. If you destroy it there will be nothing, no framework for unity and consensus. There are good and workable growing international institutions that can and should be adjuncts, and the UN needs to be better. But it is far better to have Trump spouting off in public there than somewhere on the sidelines. It is better that the US has to face the world than be completely ostracized. He does speak for those who have power in this country at present. And that is what needs to change.

Posted by: juliania | Sep 24 2019 17:57 utc | 306

@330 So it seems that a Conservatives government would continue the same tack on Ukraine. Does the NDP have a different approach?

Posted by: dh | Sep 24 2019 18:06 utc | 307

Sunny Runny Burger @329--

Thanks for your reply! I'm certainly no computer whiz! Given the mention of Quantum Computing and having run across that article and its site, I thought you and those discussing the topic would find it all of interest. The topic's in the news tangentially with squawks that "No code is uncrackable" in response to a suddenly withdrawn NASA paper hyping US tech superiority:

"NASA recently published a Google research paper claiming that a new quantum processor is ushering humanity into the era of quantum supremacy."

The cited article helps provide context that would make the quantum computing site I linked to more usable/understandable. I get the sense that a MAGA enthusiastic NASA person went beyond the pale with the essay and it was pulled by upper management. Putin has talked a great deal about the coming importance of AI and the edge it will give to the nation able to master it first, and Quantum Computing is linked with developing AI capabilities. It seems us old dogs have another new trick we must learn.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 18:10 utc | 308

dh @333

"There is no political opposition in the House of Commons to these policies. Even the New Democratic Party (NDP), that burnt out shell of Canadian social democracy, supported the Harper government, at the behest of Mr. Grod, a Ukrainian lobbyist who knows his way around Ottawa. In 2015 the UCC put a list of questions to party leaders, one of which was the following: “Does your party support listing the Luhansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic as terrorist organizations?” "

Posted by: arby | Sep 24 2019 18:43 utc | 309

@ dh - i mostly agree with arby @335... there really is no opposition to our stupid foreign policy.. both the main parties - libs and conservatives - are red neck, knee deep in neo con koolaid.. however many canucks are opposed to our stupid foreign policy approach.. i base this on the comment section of the cbc where the most liked posts typically berate the approach we are taking on the world stage.. so, there is so cause for optimism, but can't be found in any of the political parties at present... i am voting green in the off chance some type of alternative to our foreign policy will be voiced by the greens...

Posted by: james | Sep 24 2019 18:59 utc | 310

and every time the cbc does an article focused on freelands bullshite, they generally don't open it up for comment as they know what is going to happen... commenters will call freeland on her propaganda bs, as witnessed in this cbc article from today....

Posted by: james | Sep 24 2019 19:06 utc | 311

Have yet to find a transcript of Trump's UNGA screed, But judging from this review and others, it was just more of the same doubletalk and bombast. The upshot seems to be the status quo's continuance--the Outlaw US Empire will need to be physically forced to retreat from its untenable overreached global position. I wonder if there's a choice for music on UNGA headsets.

In other words, the Outlaw US Empire and its officers continue to refuse to abide by the UN Charter and their own constitution. IMO, both charges constitute the proper grounds for impeachment proceedings against all the higher executives within Trump's administration. But, it's rather doubtful that the D-Party opposition will entertain any such stance since they want to pursue essentially the same unilateral policies as Trump.

In that light, it seems the most rational move for the world's nations is to follow the advice given in the Global Times op/ed I linked to above: Put the Outlaw US Empire on probation that doesn't allow it to participate in UN functions until such time comes that it regains its willingness to conform to the UN Charter and its own constitution. Yes, that would likely mean relocating the UN's New York offices and learning how to operate without the Empire's financial contributions. But in all seriousness, the UN can no longer allow itself to remain hostage to the planet's #1 Rogue Nation and Terrorism Sponsor.

(Finally! UNGA Speech transcripts website. Oddly, it has yet to provide Trump's despite his speech being earlier. I found Turkey's interesting and have yet to read any others.)

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 19:40 utc | 312

Video of Trump's speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNOODD0wxZg

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 24 2019 19:53 utc | 313

Newsflash...via CGTN.
Imran Kahn has asked Trump for help in mediating Pakistan's "India" problem in Kashmir. Trump seems willing.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Sep 24 2019 20:12 utc | 314

Thanks Peter, but I can't stand watching him just as I couldn't stand Obama, or both Clintons, and a host of other similar criminals.

As before, Trump stood and brazenly vowed to continue to violate international law and the US Constitution. Black face, white face, man's face, woman's face, it makes no difference when it comes to Outlaw US Empire policy. The USA ought to be called a failed nation as the Fundamental basis for its Rule of Law is no longer obeyed, applied, nor are any attempts made to correct the situation--and it should be added that the above has long been reality.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 20:23 utc | 315

A bit sickening watching him. The basis of the speech was - US military is the most powerful in the world, US is the greatest country in the world, US military is the best military in the world, Venezuela bad, China bad, Iran bad, Cuba bad then he rambled about US domestic stuff.
Venezuela rep was visibly upset.
Not much to actually study in a transcript. I wanted to watch Trump, body language and so forth.
His constants are the military and his three or four target countries. Cuba has no oil but they have to be added in.
I noticed it before, but his blind hatred of socialism really struck me. Same hatred against Iran. Don't look for totally rational decisions when it comes to his target countries.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 24 2019 20:40 utc | 316

@Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 4:14 utc | 287

Well, man, I have reread my succint post referred to some of your previous comments ( in case I missed the unpolite tone denounced by you ) and what to say, I can not find the offense anywhere, being a thing, "offending", I care too much to avoid here and everywhere ( except whith people who proved far beyond doubt to be scoundrels, a group, I must confess, I do not include you in..), even whith obvious morons here, trying always even being subtle and cynic with them.

If I am honest, I found your reaction a bit oversensitive, to say the least....
Others here adress some of us in quite rude ways, including me, and we do what we can to defend ourselves... or simply ignore the poster, which is always an option....

Thus, I adressed something you stated, and gave my opinion about that. You feel offended? Well, because you want, I think...In fact, if I am to be honest, again, what I find offensive is your response, since I, in no way, aimed at offending you, and that gets crsytal clear by my post. But then you recurred to reversing this into grave offense against you.
I found it kinda provocation to start a fight, something that could get me banned...as you seem to be a kinda untouchable person here, a carrot in which I will not nail my teeth, FYI...

I am aware, by the results in my private life I have already shared with this bar, that I am hitting some scar out there, and that some activists present here would wish getting me banned, since they are seeing me effective ( and hardworking...) is trasmitting my message, this time debunking Greta and her cohorte of puppet masters....Anyone has its interests, economic or ideologic, here, and I agree in a fair fight while nobody tries to use advantages....

But, let´s analyze, word by word, what I said ( eventhough I neither have the time nor the mood, especially today with less than 5 hours of sleep, to do such a thing. My time here, if it did not get enough clear, is predominantly dedicated to fight the enemies of the working class, that is the enemies of most people in the world....amongst them, US Empire, I have little if not zilch time, and less will, for ego fights..)

I said: "Well, no wonder you have nothing to oposse to Greta´s "movement"...and at the same time you are always so optimistic...."

Something which is not true there? Where is the offense?
The only mention you made of Greta, was to publish an image of her with a US representative where she uses the usual irrefutable, but vague, discourse. Thus, you appear like legitimazing her in front of all the evidence available, including that provided by "b" with the link to Cory Moningstar´s series, an astounding well researched, well fundamented report which everybody who takes the trouble to read will find irrefutable.

On the other hand, as far as this thread is concerned, you show yourself way too opitimistic, to my view, with the "Green Movement", and its obvious "hided" goals. I use to read your comments with attention and that is what trasluces to me, then your discourse is one of defense of "Green Movement" which I, in the terms it is formulated and presented as supportive of the War Party and at the same time dismantlers of the remains of welfare state are, plainly, my opponents, for not saying my enenmies, and of all the people I love.

I said: "Are you a neighbor of Pat Lang, or what? At least you find it scandalous...."

In this, yes, I admit, you could find here that I was a bit abusing your confidence, as a barfly, of course. So sorry, my apologies if was this what you found offensive, I was being humorous, if you did not notice, being you and I long time commenters, you quitel onger than me, but... not without truth included.

Let me explain.

Some weeks ago, I do not recall well if at the time of the oil tankers attack in the Persian Gulf, got unveiled here that many of our barflies are former or current USAF Navy operatives.... As I understood, and please correct me if I understood badly, you stated you had worked for US Navy...Now, the other day, you tell us your real state is currently valued in $million...
Then, some weeks ago, as well, the ínclito Pat Lang, a veteran from USAF intelligence, bragged about his real state being currently valued in around $million or more...
Allow me to find here a pattern...even not being The Donald or having any idea on US real state´s real state, to get as conclusion that some people in the US military are way overpayed, due, not only to the poor results, but also to the let´s say contrasting conditions of living of "other" veterans and other millions of US citizens who do not have neither shelter, nor food, nor health care, nor even a job, not to mention the gallopant unpayable US debt to be shared by all....

All in all I am recognizing "you at least find it scandalous", contrary to Pat Lang, which I can not find offensive, but just the other way around.

And that´s all, man!

You post here and about what you say I post my opinion, as others do with mine.
You are an appreciated commenter for me, since you provide a lot of informative posts and, moreover, you are mostly Russophile, like me, ( but I am most Russophile of the Russian people than of the current Kremlin administration, as you seem all the way to be, which I aprecciate in its real value for world peace, but which I find sometimes in the opposite side of my interests as working class peer...) most of the times polite, but, really, realize I am not in your league, man, I am a kid of the block!, as hardworking as you could have been, me and all my ancestors, friends and relatives, and their ancestors, and is spite of that nobody I know has ever afforded itself a $million real state....That means we are less worth, or our hard work?...I just do not think so...

I must recognize you hitted at that a nerve on me. I, for one, find obscene that people speculate with real state, even with own home, so as to make gains of this ( one of the reasons I can not cop with The Donald...) which I am not saying it is your case, beware. But you benefitted from a real state bubble which then had its reverse and effect over thousands of people who, while your propietry was being dozens of times overvalued theirs got dozens of time undervalued, which causes many people to become not only bankrupted, but even homeless...I, as communist, am against this outrage. I can not admit it, a victim myself, although not at the extent of others. Simply, housing, having a shelter, can not be left to the fate of fortune, that is one of the most ammoral aspects of late financial capitalism.

On the other hand, and as you feel so self-righteous by the ecologic measures you took in your daily life, I would say that for to undertake such reforms at home and to be able to buy food ( and even be a partner...since closed clubs with rights of admission and close quotas of partners...)in one of those bio equities of the hell, one has, in the first place, to get a lot of spare money available. This is why I said, in another comment, I think that also to you, that you man seem to live some foots over the Earth than average Joe here...
Reforms at home to make your home ecologically friendly are not at the hand of most of the people who hardly manage to make ends meet with current wages and prices of basics to live... and never will be....in case we continue with this system, something Greta does not say....

I live 25 km from my place of job, as I have told you. To arrive there, I wake up at 6:30am., night already even now. I am not willling, neither for Greta, nor for you, to live you both in a cleaner ambiance, to wake up at 5am to go to work in public transport ( completely disfunctional here with respect to timetable and frequency...)... I warn, if they try to force me, I will revolt, like the Yellow Vests!
You see, I have little to lose, since I am not willling to allow them killing me of sleep deprivation before retirement, just so that they, Lagarde and &, can save my pension for they to live in $million dollars neighborhoods.ç
Not to mention that I need my car for my job, although I think that my employer should pay for that, since, in the end, the expenses are to be substracted from my already meager wage frozen since the 2008 crisis exported by your damned country, thus I do not earn what nominatelly my paycheck points out, but that with the substraction of car expenses, oil and highway fees....
And btw, I own a diesel car, as I was adviced by the car dealer it was the most convenient for me since doing a lot of kms a year only for to go working...In fact, I have been saving, till the rising of diesel, which currently almost equates plumber free gasoline, almost the whole insurance expense....But this car has a technology to save CO2 when stopped, whose prize I religiously paid.... Of course, I got this car because the old one was 15 years old and poluted too much, according to the government...

Live with it! and, if you can, grow a slightly harder skin...

P.S:If serves you of something, in my first times at the internet activism I was also very sensitive, but went hardening, if not because I never enjoyed the protection of anybody or any site...

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 20:45 utc | 317

arby | Sep 24 2019 17:28 utc | 330:

I always take the "Follow the money" approach.   Thus far the common thread is anti-Russia.   It's likely to do with access to US and European markets.

Hoarsewhisperer | Sep 24 2019 20:12 utc | 340:

So Beijing has failed to solve this problem.   Or is this a ploy to help Trump get a win in the foreign policy department now that Bolton was kicked out.

Peter AU 1 | Sep 24 2019 20:40 utc | 342:

Perhaps a bit nauseating when listening to anyone speaking from DC, but I'm reminded of Sun Tzu's "When weak, appear strong" advice.   We'll find out post-2020 when Trump gets re-elected, which I'm predicting he will, as the Democrats haven't fielded someone sensible.

Posted by: Ian2 | Sep 24 2019 21:10 utc | 318

Peter AU 1 @342--

Thanks for your reply! Seems Pelosi's going to allow Impeachment hearings to begin because Trump supposedly told Zelensky he'd be wise to investigate Biden's son's likely illegal activities in Ukraine. Where in the hell is the high crime or misdemeanor in that?! IMO, both Biden and Obama deserved impeaching, as did Bush/Cheney and Clinton/Gore before them--the all too rotten chain is very long and beyond sordid, like a bunch of Walkers from The Living Dead. And what of Pelosi's roll in allowing the previous criminals to escape justice? Surely she deserves their fate, too!

IMO, the big problem remains the issue of the Outlaw US Empire's control of international institutions that could actually do some good without its impeding their work. Given reality, what difference does it make if the Outlaw US Empire resides outside the UN or in as it ignores the institution's central tenets and its own as I constantly repeat. It's word isn't worth a sou, so there's no reason to negotiate a treaty with it. Ignore it like any common troll and get on with what needs to be accomplished. And as I posted on the book review thread in reply to arata, the speeches by Turkey and Qatar both spoke to the need for a new direction, and I suspect we'll see their words echoed.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 21:30 utc | 319

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 20:45 utc | 343

Sasha, I appreciate and take time to read your comments, so I recognize you as a strong socialist, well aware of things happening in the world.

I think you may have misunderstood karlof1's comment about the rising value of his former home in California. I believe he rightly explained his situation as a retired teacher of history, and that he feels he fairly deserves his good fortune in home ownership.

I believe karlof1 is fighting the good fight, as are many others including yourself, against the forces that oppress us.

Your passion comes through in your writing, please don't get hung up in an interpersonal wrangle over this, I implore you. We all have something to contribute here and I truly enjoy your posts.

It can be a bit too easy to confuse or mistake another's comments for insult or challenge, so please do continue to give us the benefit of your knowledge and opinions.

karlof1 is a prolific, busy researcher and contributor as well, in fact along with our host he brings the most value of any one poster to this site. If he misread something you said, just let it go.

Posted by: jonku | Sep 24 2019 21:56 utc | 320

For those who missed hearing Trump's UN speech -- you will not have to subject yourselves to such a painful experience -- I did it for you:

Trump began his UN speech by reciting a long list of criminal behaviors engaged in by the US, both now and over the past many decades, but attributed those behaviors to other nations which have resources coveted by US oligarchs or which have better and more just economic systems than the US.

He then launched into a series of outright, blatant lies about nations around the world against which the US has been, is planning to, or is currently carrying out criminal attacks.

He finished up with a double mouthful of blather about kindness, propriety and nobility – for other nations – in which he has no intention of engaging – ever.

Posted by: AntiSpin | Sep 24 2019 22:08 utc | 321

Whis is who at the "Green Movement"

UNGA 20:56 GMT Address of the Prince of Monaco

Prince Albert II of Monaco begins his intervention by referring to the youth movement that demands measures against the climate crisis.

This idle beneficiary of a tax heaven, where many millionaires hide their fortunes from national treasures, dares to give us advice on what to spend our scarce income...

I would advice him and the EU governments to publish the list of tax evaders which was provided time ago by an activist and with that money recovered pay the Carbon Taxes...
We are already way too much squeezed out.
The things to continue this way, we will revolt in mass, this is going beyond brown to obscure.
No wonder, Macron and his administration are trying now to distance themselves form Greta´s ecofascism...with what they had mounted in France...and what it has mounted in the net, at least in the EU, with this....overwhelming majority of workers against this clear intend of scam... although they are really full in the "Green" business...as Cory Morningstar exposed....

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 22:11 utc | 322

Gabbard qualifies for October debate! Thread comments are good.

AntiSpin @347--

Thanks for your synopsis! In future, the UN should just project a hologram of Trump's speech in place of having the Outlaw US Empire's representative speak.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 24 2019 22:19 utc | 323

@343 sasha - ditto what @346 jonku says to you.. i really appreciate your posts as well sasha!

Posted by: james | Sep 24 2019 22:23 utc | 324

karlof1

It will be interesting seeing the speeches from different countries a see how many have taken on the Russian (not the Trump version) vision of a multi-polar world. I read some of Erdogan's speech. I believe even what is happening in Syria, he is fully aboard the Russian vision.
I have not seen Qatar speech yet. Imran Khan did a presser, Sputnik has the video in an article. Worth watching. His main point in heading to the US was Kashmir.
https://sputniknews.com/world/201909241076875362-pakistans-prime-minister-imran-khan-holds-press-conference-at-un-general-assembly---video/

Khan on the jihadists and Afghanistan.
https://twitter.com/waqas_x/status/1176588255384559616

I used to watch him play cricket on TV. Now he is a world class statesman. Hope he stays alive for awhile.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 24 2019 22:28 utc | 325

The only one, for now, at UNGA setting the record straight:

UNGA 17:15 GMT Address by Bolivian President Evo Morales

The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma, begins his speech before the UN General Assembly. The president condemns that some states have decided to ignore the provisions of the UN Charter.

"The world is being controlled by a global oligarchy," says the head of state, lamenting the current levels of problems in the world. "The root of the problem is in the capitalist system," he says, adding that "only joint action and unity" can be used to solve it.

Morales emphasizes that Bolivia is the country with the highest economic growth in South America, and explains that he has achieved that and other notable achievements "thanks to the conscience of the people, of the social movements, of indigenous, peasants, workers", among others.

As for forest fires, the president said that his country has so far allocated $ 15 million to fight the fire that has hit the Amazon. On the other hand, he added that Bolivia "will not give up" its right to sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.

https://youtu.be/CEp4I-oi5_Q

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 22:30 utc | 326

Trump impeachment inquiry started. Hopefully b covers this sometime tomorrow.

Posted by: David | Sep 24 2019 22:58 utc | 327

Unrelated to Greta, in her worlds of Yuppie for privileged snobs, and their bad theater at UNGA, real working people at theirs, a column of representatives of Basque pensioners ( North Column ) are marching on foot to the capital of Spain, Madrid, in defense of a public system of decent pensions.

Other columns from other regions of Spain will join.

Not one step back!

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 22:59 utc | 328

Related to the pricing of "real state", I, as a Spanish worker, find astonishing that you, in the US blogs, are always aware of the current price of your propieties...eventhough when you are not planning ot move.

Not a comment anyone here would made unless it is planning to move from its current domicile ...

But, well, you live really in another world....where everything is continuously priced....

Most of my current neighbors have lived here since childhood and before they, here lived their parents...A really lovely neighborhood...And that is almost the same case of almost everyone I know...In fact, most of the people I treat have never changed home, made reforms to actualize their houses as they could, but really never move, mostly because they never could afford, in spite of passing their whole lives working as hard as anyone else...

But well, while you were changing domicile non-stop, and earning a good money out of that, we were still an underdeveloped country, kept that way by 40 years of fascist dictatorship well substained by your US Embassy...then followed this US/EU dominated satrapy we have today....

I was thinking that changing so many times of domicile is quite unecologic indeed...

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 24 2019 23:49 utc | 329

The U.S. cannot initiate the attack on Iran. The U.S. must get Iran to openly act first, like the U.S. was able to do with Japan in 1941. Then the U.S. will be all-in and the first order of business will be for the U.S. to take out Iran's shore batteries in the PG. If this attack cannot neutralize Iranian retaliatory capabilities then there simply is no reason to attack Iran at all because what good would it do the U.S. and the E.U. and the UK to mess-up Iran if you lose KSA, UAE, and Kuwait in the process? Too many losses. Not even mentioning other ME targets. The U.S. starved Japan of much needed oil in 1940-41 and Japan felt it was left with no choice but to respond militarily and the U.S. almost lost Pearl Harbor. So one question would be, what would it take to get Iran to take the offensive? Another is, would Iran be in the right if they did strike out militarily? After all, they've already stated the presence of more U.S. troops and weapons in the region is a provocation. Is there anything that can prevent an escalation of hostilities? Israel is determined to strike at Iran in order to get them to respond in some fashion. Iran's patience has been instrumental in positioning them favorably in the eyes of Russia and China. Without Venezuela oil under western control, leaves mighty western economies exposed. I read somewhere else that timing of attack (month/day/year) will also be important. New moon always helps.

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Sep 24 2019 23:57 utc | 330

Something rarely commented at MoA.... or UNGA, eventhough taking place in the US and affecting hundres thounsads of US families...

From # 23Sep 50,000 General Motors workers seconded a massive strike to demand work improvements. 50 factories are paralyzed. It is estimated that every day of unemployment the company loses 100 million dollars. These are the strikes that great capital hates.

#GMStrike

https://twitter.com/oriolsabata/status/1176615223043776512

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 25 2019 0:02 utc | 331

@Posted by: Sasha | Sep 25 2019 0:02 utc | 357

$ 100,000,000 of daily losses / 50,000 striking workers = $ 2,000 of daily surplus value that they were taking from each.

https://twitter.com/CapitanFisting/status/1176616589539598337

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 25 2019 0:05 utc | 332

It is inevitable to compare the media hype that is taking place with the false "world strike" due to climate with the almost absolute irrelevance in the media of the different workers' struggles that develop, such as that of the workers of the multinational Vesuvius in Oviedo.

#VesuviusNoSeCierra

https://twitter.com/oriolsabata/status/1176571904544690176

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 25 2019 0:13 utc | 333

The official 'story' for the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook: "The company has failed to adapt to the Internet." But managers' salaries adapted phenomenally. Now, to pay with public money the nth pufo of the #liberals.

https://twitter.com/palzaga/status/1176579113668292609

Posted by: Sasha | Sep 25 2019 0:18 utc | 334

RT is carrying a story from OilPrice that in turn cites WSJ in part, to the effect that the Aramco damage may take a lot longer to repair, since parts have to be not only imported but even manufactured first:
Is Saudi Aramco lying about its damaged oil infrastructure?

When the next Houthi strike didn't happen, I wondered if Iran had advised Ansarullah to wait a while to let the media fallout continue. In other words, if the damage was never going to be fixed before KSA ran through its reserves, and Iran and Yemen knew this, then the oil price will spike again, and the KSA crisis will seem even more of a debacle.

It does seem somewhat valuable to wait a while to let the full truth of the severity of the blow become totally apparent to the world.

When Muhammad Ali delivered the knockout punch to George Foreman, as Foreman was falling to the floor, Ali's right fist was primed for another punch, but he didn't strike. Norman Mailer, talking about the fight, said it was almost as if Ali didn't want to spoil the aesthetic of this big man going down, with a clumsy second punch on the way down.

Just a thought.

Posted by: Grieved | Sep 25 2019 0:44 utc | 335

The consent manufacturers goofed when they thought Greta could serve in the role of Aleppo Bana over the carbon issue. Bana's personna, authentic or not, was innocence in danger. Greta's personna is privileged adolescent snottiness.

Posted by: Thirdeye | Sep 25 2019 1:29 utc | 336

The latest silliness from the great white North's election campaign is the astonishing and apparently unacceptable appointment of an honorary consul to Syria who dares to represent that government and its head of state. But Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, (the Nazi's grand-daughter) is on the job and vows to set things right. Perhaps she can arrange for one of those Al Qaeda White Helmet head-choppers she and Netanyahu helped rescue and ship to Canada, could take up the post instead...?

Freeland Vows Swift Response To 'Unacceptable' appointment of pro-Assad official in Montreal

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-freeland-assad-honorary-consul-review-1.5295429

Posted by: John Gilberts | Sep 25 2019 1:29 utc | 337

Grieved
Re Foreman and Ali. I ran onto an interview one time where Foreman answered why ali did not hit him again. It was the type of person Ali was. He could see Foreman was going down and another was not required. Worth watching a few videos where Foreman in later life talks about Ali.
Went through a few videos looking for that piece but could not find it.

Foreman talking about Ali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydo7U4VKtao

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 1:53 utc | 338

@ thecelticwithinme 356

The U.S. cannot initiate the attack on Iran.
Correct (or they would have done it by now).

If this attack cannot neutralize Iranian retaliatory capabilities then there simply is no reason to attack Iran at all because what good would it do the U.S. and the E.U. and the UK to mess-up Iran if you lose KSA, UAE, and Kuwait in the process? Too many losses.

I imagine that the Iranian retaliatory capabilities, from what they've said, are primarily targeting the 50,000 US troops, their dependents, and other US civilians at Gulf ground, air and naval bases, also ships at sea. This capability includes rockets, missiles, mines and torpedos from submarines. Then add Hezbollah, which has said it would support Iran, which has thousands of missiles targeting Israel.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2019 2:24 utc | 339

thecelticwithinme

As far as I can see,the only thing that can prevent a US strike is the abject surrender of Iran, or Russia or China intervening.
The old era of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya shock and awe is past. If US strikes, Iran will be destroyed.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 2:35 utc | 340

@ Peter AU 1 366
...the only thing that can prevent a US strike is the abject surrender of Iran
No, what has prevented a US strike is Iran's capability to strike back as I described in my 365 above.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2019 2:57 utc | 341

Don Bacon
Israel is prepared to take some hits if it means destroying Iran and Hezbollah before they become to strong and US becomes too weak.
The old era of US nation building and the rest of that crap is gone. US will cut back to five-eyes plus Israel. US has moved us back to the era of pre WWII great power competition.
No competing ideologies. Just power.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 3:16 utc | 342

Washington and London, Moscow Beijing Tehran, and the Hindutva aryan supremist odour in the background is the Indian wild card. Wild card to be played mostly against China but useful against muslim targets.
That is the great power lineup.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 3:30 utc | 343

The Syria you won’t see: Max Blumenthal on visiting Damascus after the proxy war (video, 16:25).

Posted by: S | Sep 25 2019 3:37 utc | 344

Don Bacon @367 & Peter AU 1 @366--

With luck, we'll never discover the actual answer. But my wager goes with neither as IMO the only way the Outlaw US Empire can "destroy" Iran is with Nukes; and if they get employed, the Empire will get vaporized too. Conventionally, the Empire's checkmated. And in reality if you think it all the way through, it's also checkmated if it uses Nukes. All that remains is Bluff & Bluster as with Pompeo's latest demands and Trump's speech.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 3:39 utc | 345

What has prevented a US strike is 1] China, who has recently invested $400 Billion in Iran and has many Chinese Nationals working in-country; 2] European dependence on oil from the Persian Gulf region; 3] Russian weapons and nuclear, rocket, and military technology supplies to Iran; and 4] US troops at risk from Iranian proxies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Posted by: mike | Sep 25 2019 3:52 utc | 346

@ mike 372
1. China has not said anything in support of Iran (and neither has Russia).
2. European dependence on anything doesn't matter to the US which controls Europe.
3. Russia has aided Iran in its defense, but Russia profits from Iran oil sanctions and hasn't said anything.
4. US troops are in direct danger from Iran, as I described at my 365 above. That's what prevents a strike.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2019 4:56 utc | 347

@ karlof1 371
the only way the Outlaw US Empire can "destroy" Iran is with Nukes
There have been other alternatives to "destroy" as we saw when Iran shot down the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. Various US warmongers have talked about a return strike, a "bloody nose," etc.
What has stopped the US from a strike on Iran is Iran's promise that US forces would suffer from counter-attacks. Various Iranians have said that, and probably they mean it. And it would be easy to do.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2019 5:03 utc | 348

Don
Russia is not an oil importer. It has now connected its banking system to Iran so they can trade away from swift. Russia signed a contract a few weeks ago to import small jet engines from Iran.
Russia's main exports are oil and grain and SAM systems Iran's main export is oil.
Iran's main trade partners should be Asia and Europe as they have to import oil. Iran will have some tech and ag and so forth for trade, but the main trade (export) it needs is oil and gas. China is still buying oil and has signed a deal for a good part of its strategic oil supplies.
China has worn direct hits in Yugoslavia, financial hits in other places us has destroyed.
Perhaps Iran will be the red line for China.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 5:22 utc | 349

@ David # 353

"Trump impeachment inquiry started. Hopefully b covers this sometime tomorrow."

The democratically controlled house could indeed vote to impeach, but to actually impeach must be voted in the republican controlled congress. Likely? You decide, but to me looks like another wasteful distraction.

I dunno if this has already been posted here, apologies if it has, but Finian Cunningham has an excellent interview with Julian Assange's father, over at Strategic Culture.

Posted by: aye, myself & me | Sep 25 2019 8:48 utc | 350

Uh, republican controlled senate to be precise.

Posted by: aye, myself & me | Sep 25 2019 8:50 utc | 351

Posted by: aye, myself & me | Sep 25 2019 8:50 utc | 377

The interesting thing is that this, like Russiagate, involves Ukraine.

Posted by: somebody | Sep 25 2019 8:56 utc | 352

I think we have just seen the 'false flag' event -- real or not, Iran is being framed as the 'source' by stealth. The Saudi gang will justify attacking Iran; take the hit; recoup the $costs through oil price rises; and Trump will have his much needed ME war that he personally did not start. It's a win-win-win (counting in the Occupation Entity in Palestine).

“We want to mobilize international support, and we want to look at all options - diplomatic options, economic options and military options - and then make the decision,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at an event held to coincide with the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, reminding his audience that Riyadh believes Iran was responsible for the strikes “because the equipment is the Iranian equipment.”

https://www.rt.com/news/469535-saudi-arabia-military-options-iran/

Posted by: imo | Sep 25 2019 12:17 utc | 353

imo @ 379

Seems like a bit of a joke. The Saudi's can't even beat the Houthis never mind Iran.

Posted by: arby | Sep 25 2019 12:27 utc | 354

I think we now get a hint at who wrote the speech! He must have had it in his archieved emails and pulled it out when the ground beneath his feet opened yesterday.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-49807552
14:33
MPs now discussing PM's links with US businesswoman
The Commons is now moving on to a second Urgent Question - one which is potentially no less problematic for the prime minister.

Lib Dem Layla Moran says there has been a "misuse of funds and conflict of interest" in relation to a £100,000 cyber security grant given to Hacker House - a tech recruitment firm run by US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri.

Newspaper reports suggested Ms Arcuri joined trade missions led by Mr Johnson when he was London Mayor and received thousands in other sponsorship grants.

But Labour's Tom Watson said it is "very hard to see how this firm filled the criteria for such grants", suggesting it has no employees in London. He asks whether any MPs lobbied for the firm to receive public money.

Responding for the government, Matt Warman said the prime minister had had no input into the award of public money to Ms Arcuri's business and all appropriate due diligence had been carried out by senior officials before the award.

"The prime minister has had no role whatsoever in this application."

The government, he adds, would co-operate with all inquiries into the matter, including one being undertaken by Sadiq Khan, Mr Johnson's successor as London mayor.

Posted by: Mina | Sep 25 2019 12:37 utc | 355

Thomas Cook gives an idea of what the Brits mean with "no-deal", i.e. f... yourself
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49823225
The British Embassy in Cuba had to arrange for ppl to leave the hotels without paying bills. Disaster for the economy in Tunisia, Greece, Egypt and Turkey. Belgian tourists in Bodrum saying on the radio that they were asked to pay by the hotels while the insurance and embassy tell them not to pay.
https://www.rtbf.be/info/monde/detail_thomas-cook-la-faillite-du-groupe-sera-un-tsunami-pour-la-grece?id=10322379
https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1W8197-OZATP

As usual, British expertise on "How to screw the poor" will become proverbial. Why do they hate us is the next question.

Posted by: Mina | Sep 25 2019 14:02 utc | 356

And another day dawns. Rouhani was interviewed for @20min by FOX's Chris Wallace. Pepe Escobar update on Saudi oil and Yemen from Beirut. His sources confirm other reports of Saudi needing to purchase replacement components to repair the damaged refineries--components that must be manufactured first, not off the shelf, which means many months of waiting. And since the Saudis have ignored Ansarullah's offer to cease its aerial attacks on Saudi and conduct peace talks, the Houthis will definitely attack again, and thus allow the idiot followers of the Outlaw US Empire to make fools of themselves yet again.

Rouhani is speaking at UN right now, here.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 15:20 utc | 357

Rouhani is also sending his speech out through his twitter.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 15:32 utc | 358

The Dem Congress has found a new way to avoid actually doing anything about the problems the US faces, and instead focus its lazy gaze on a July presidential phone call to the new Ukraine president in which the president mentioned the name of an American who meddled in Ukraine affairs, bragging that he got a corruption investigator fired. Oh, and the American previously got his coke-head son appointed to high position in a company being investigated.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2019 16:13 utc | 359

An outstanding and educational read, "Are We Approaching the End of Super Imperialism?". The author merely hints, but I'll answer Yes. And that's the current unvoiced/unwritten about crisis affecting the Current Oligarchy, while TrumpCo policies are making it occur more rapidly than it might.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 16:14 utc | 360

Don Bacon @387--

Gotta agree with your sentiment. Trump didn't commit any sort of impeachable offense in pointing out Biden's illegal behavior in Overthrowing Ukraine's government and his son's subsequent involvement in the resulting corruption free-for-all.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 16:19 utc | 361

circe - i notice some resemblance between the twitter king and you with the hastag!!
maybe you are both shareholders in twitter, or is it instagram? lol...

Posted by: james | Sep 25 2019 16:57 utc | 362

Lavrov is in high form today at the UN. At the UNSC session, of which it would be great to see a transcript or video, TASS gave us this one example:

"Lavrov pointed out that some countries were using terrorist groups for their selfish purposes, thus considerably complicating the struggle against the global terrorist threat.

"'It is absolutely impermissible, and I would like to emphasize this, to use terrorist organizations for selfish political aims. There can be no justification for this,' he concluded."

At least most of us barflies know which entity's the most "selfish"--The Outlaw US Empire. Lavrov earlier sarcastically "thanked" the host nation for at least issuing him a visa so he could attend the UNGA, although 10 Russian delegates were refused theirs. I'd bet the requested number of visa not provided for this UNGA set a new record, although I have no way to verify that presumption.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 17:02 utc | 363

Lovely... the French-Brazilian butler of Epstein in Paris says he saw hundreds of girls visit the massage room "but did not know their age", and is still paid for his job by the estate til this day.
https://www.franceinter.fr/justice/affaire-epstein-perquisitions-a-son-domicile-parisien-et-a-l-agence-karin-models

Posted by: Mina | Sep 25 2019 17:13 utc | 364

Rouhani's UNGA speech transcript.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 17:28 utc | 365

It is funny to hear D.J.Trump and all the former POTUS talking about Iran as the "leading state sponsor of terrorism", compare to, for example, the KSA.

One of the cases that hurt more to the MIC is the Beirut marines' barrack bombing in october 1983 where 241 american soldiers were killed by a suicide truck attack. This was made after the american military took side with some factions of a civil war, bombing and sniping positions of shia and other syrian allies in Beirut, in the context of the civil war in Lebanon, at the end created by the israeli invasion; and that could be expected in this context; but anyhow this infuriated the MIC and also because this forced the then "sacrosant" president Reagan to take out all the marines of Lebanon is some weeks.

They said it was "Iran" who made it, but in the same vein, and with more reasons, the thousand of american civilians and soldiers killed by the wahabist terrorism should be attributed to KSA.

On the other hand it is curious how USA avoid any condemnation of Iraq when the Saddam troops started to use nerve and mustard gas against iranian soldiers and civilians.
In fact USA blockade any iranian initiative in the UN take actions to avoid the use of chemical weapons (CW) by Irak, they only allow the UN to issue a vage "condemnation" but nothing change at all, and also it is well known that USA supplied Iraq with chemical products that help the manufacture of CW and satellite information for precision target of iranian troops, after the famous Donald Rumsfeld visit to Saddam Hussein in 1983.
Of course the USA and the western countries fully endorse Saddam Hussein in the war against Iran, he was our "alleid" in a "just" war

https://www.rt.com/news/chemical-weapons-iran-iraq-980/

In the height of hypocrisy USA thought Saddam still had CW in 2003 because they supplied them to use against Iran in the Iran-Iraq war:

https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000707130006-1.pdf

https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/DOC_0001229102.pdf

How in the hell american people think the iranian people could have a "positive view" of the american "regime" after so many hundred thousands iranian people dead in this war, many thousands like rats in CW attacks, and after all the threat and sanctions USA made after 1979?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_chemical_attacks_against_Iran

The current estimations is around 150.000 iranian causalties (mainly soldiers) due to CW and it was also reported more than 30 attacks on iranian civilian population; as the CIA said "it was very successful to stop the waves of iranian soldiers"

I think the USA definition of "terrorism" is quite narrow and cherry picked, and change a lot with USA MIC interests

Posted by: DFC | Sep 25 2019 17:47 utc | 366

dear sasha et al;

it is possible to support striking workers without catapulting corporate propaganda about fossil fuels not causing climate change. gravity works regardless of what one's "persona" is. whether gt is a shill or not doesn't affect the fact that humans caused the climate change this time, and doesn't address the main problem.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Sep 25 2019 17:53 utc | 367

General & President Aoun spoke for Lebanon. Without naming it, he was as rhetorically hostile to the host nation as the host nation is actively hostile toward it. He concluded, "for no justice shall rise, no right shall be consecrated and no peace will be established, as long as the principle prevailing in our world is: I am strong, then I am right!"

For some reason, Iraq's statement is only available in Arabic, which is most unfortunate. Japan's PM Abe voiced the need to reform the UNSC, stated his desire to meet with DPRK Chairman Kim, but for some unexplained reason called the legitimate attack by Yemen's Ansarullah on Saudi Aramco facilities a "crime." This article provides a good summation of his remarks and ideas from the most recent UNGA President on UN reform.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 18:22 utc | 368

karlof1

"In fiscal 2017, 87% of Japan’s imported oil came from the Middle East, predominantly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Over 80% of this is transported by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz."
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00482/japan-still-reliant-on-middle-eastern-oil.html

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 18:28 utc | 369

@Sunny Runny Burger #329
@karlof1 #334
Here's a very accessible overview on "quantum supremacy" by someone intimately involved who actually knows something about cryptography as well.
short summary: publicity stunt that showed some capabilities, but zero ability to decrypt anything modern now or for the foreseeable future.
What really amusing is that I was 100% right about this being a publicity stunt on par with their page level hash collision without even being able to read the paper: Google people created a specific situation for which they had the compute resources to calculate the correct outcome.
The problem was an Nexp50 one - and they didn't actually verify correctness, only that the statistical outcome was close enough. The source of truth was running thousands to tens of thousands of Google computers for a month or more.
This approach simply will not work for Nexp1000 - there aren't enough computers in the world to map out the output surface area to know if any algorithm worked correctly, as I wrote about already.

Posted by: c1ue | Sep 25 2019 18:42 utc | 370

Peter AU 1 @400--

Thanks for your reply! Yes, I'm aware of the nature of Japan's dependence on Persian Gulf oil, but that doesn't render the attack on Aramco's facilities a "crime" as they constitute a legitimate military target, which differs mightily from the ones Saudi targets, which are indeed crimes.

It seems likely very little discussion of the UNGA speeches will occur as the focus will now turn to the decision made to impeach Trump. Oh well, I felt that would happen.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 19:00 utc | 371

Lula is right “In times of terror, we choose monsters to protect us” or at least that what some people do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93MgeyNqc_k
https://theintercept.com/2019/05/22/lula-brazil-ex-president-prison-interview/

Posted by: Mina | Sep 25 2019 19:01 utc | 372

karlof1
Abe will be looking after Japan's short term interests with that statement, but I suspect long term interests and plans are different.
I see this in China also, they still deal with the enemy for immediate needs while setting up alternatives.
I suspect in the end though, Japan will be one of the big losers as they are too tied into the US and its hegemonic world system.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 19:12 utc | 373

Peter AU 1 @404--

Speaking of China, Global Times editorial tells us:

"Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a keynote speech at a dinner co-hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations, US-China Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce and Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday in New York."

I'll look for a transcript as the editorial is light on content, choosing to emphasize style instead:

"As China-US relations have once again reached a crossroads, Wang pointed out where China-US relations should be headed. Frankly, calmly, objectively, and rationally, Wang conveyed clear and rich information to the US and the world.

"Demonstrating China's style as a great power, Wang spoke in a way totally different from US politicians like US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose words have been emotional and aggressive."

As for Japan, Abe's shown some independence from the Outlaw US Empire. But as you note, for Japan to further its interests, it must end the occupation and become an independent actor again.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 19:37 utc | 374

dennis | Sep 24 2019 13:29 utc | 308--

Thanks for your well thought reply! Seems we both missed each others comment and were tardy. I've had some involvement with Habitat for Humanity and a kindred operation in Milwaukee, WI that helps the poor and elderly rehab and remain in their homes, the latter through my brother. Recently watched an old film that had one of its main scenes occur in a rooming house, which have now mostly vanished within the USA but were once a primary form of shelter and considered home by many. I imagine if we were to sit down, have a pint or two and discuss things, that we'd enjoy our discourse.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 19:49 utc | 375

For those interested, today Naked Capitalism has embedded a paper by Michael Hudson "Asset-Price Inflation and Rent Seeking: A Total-Returns Profile of Economic Polarization in America." I'd call it a must read.

Posted by: spudski | Sep 25 2019 20:03 utc | 376

401 Cont'd--

Well, no transcript, but there's this video of his speech. He'll also deliver China's UNGA speech.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 20:05 utc | 377

Hey spudski @403!!--

Thanks for the FYI! In case you missed it, you'll want to read this, "Are We Approaching the End of Super Imperialism?"

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 20:09 utc | 378

You're very welcome and thank you for the link karlof1@405. I really like his stuff.

Posted by: spudski | Sep 25 2019 20:17 utc | 379

Karlof1 @ 405

Nice link, reading the article I'm reminded of the Goodfellas scene of the mob taking over a restaurant...

The title (Re Uncle Sam) says it all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L4HHPTiZN8

BTW I did eventually get around to a reply, I'm really sorry I missed it on my sporadic refresh. I've seen the documentary (and many other worthy ones) read 1 or 2 of the titles you mention. The biggest difficulty is our own human nature, the 'software' updates are (way) behind the curve.

Posted by: dennis | Sep 25 2019 22:01 utc | 380

dennis @407--

Thanks for your reply! The little kid within me has always fueled my academic pursuits of trying to solve the Why question, in this particular regard what's the fundamental cause of our dysfunctional culture and thus society, the answer to which is lodged in our human nature--the quest for comfort and ease, the roots of which reside in our hominid past. As you read above, my solution is for human nature--behavior--to evolve in a manner that solves the root of the Climate Crisis problem--a software update. Unfortunately, the Current Oligarchy has finely tuned the art of Divide et Regula to a degree that makes updating the software almost impossible to accomplish, at least within the Outlaw US Empire, as the newest topic readily proves.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2019 22:24 utc | 381

Re human nature and the why. I tend to take an overall veiw and look at humans as just another species of mammal.
Some mammal species are solitary, some have small or family groups, and some congregate in large herds, flocks or shoals.
Humans mostly have the heard or social instinct.
Often sheep or sheeples is used as a term for people that that follow group think.
If you have ever worked with sheep, it is easy to understand why the term is used. On their own or in very small groups, sheep are difficult to handle as they tend to think for themselves.
Bring a lot of these individuals and small groups together into a large mob and they are much easier to handle as they stop thinking for themselves and just run with the mob.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 22:42 utc | 382

Peter AU 1 & Karlof1

I have worked with sheep and dogs and chuckle quietly on the inside at your description. I know those excruciating moments of frustration unable to telepathically instruct them to stop while witnessing their charging into a barbed wire fence overlooking the exit behind them. ;-)

Unfortunately its not so comfortable when the mutton is closer to home.

Karlof1 - I fell in love with and later married a psychologist with the yearning to understand the wiring loom. I is by far the best human activity to work on oneself and comprehend one's triggers, motivations and deeper goals.

I enjoy the insightful nature of this site and the willingness of the posters to keep it real.

Posted by: dennis | Sep 25 2019 22:56 utc | 383

dennis
Rather than wiring, I tend to look at the operating system we are born with, what has already been programed into it before we are born. Birds ability to build a nest is a good sample of this pre-programming. It is not something they learn.
It is this pre-programing that controls much of what we do. Separate to learned traits that also influence us.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 25 2019 23:12 utc | 384

Peter AU 1 @411 & dennis @410--

When I first tried to make a go of college in 1973, I took a sociology course for which one of the books was Primate Societies, which is about the animals we are. Humans are certainly social animals with behavioral traits resembling those of the Bonobo, our closest primate relative. Note I didn't include security with comfort and ease as its a component of both. The concept that encapsulates both is wellbeing. Bonobos and other primates organize themselves through their culture and societies to maximize their wellbeing, and we do too. The fundamental difference as some know is the far greater dependency/use of tools (technology) by humans to maximize our wellbeing. Unfortunately, it's the evolution of tools that moved humans out of the functional cycle of Nature that governs all other creatures on the planet and has ultimately led to the situation we now face.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 26 2019 0:46 utc | 385

I've only gotten a far as reading most of 334 before the sputniknews.com link sidetracked me into finding the paper.

Here's the paper as it was published courtesy of nextbigfuture.com. It has survived a few days but maybe not for much longer? I haven't tried reading it as I should have gone to bed hours ago and my alarm goes off in about four hours. I also have some other stuff I wrote as replies about quantum computing and also "black cubes" that I might post "tomorrow" or whenever I wake up after "tomorrow" is done.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 26 2019 1:22 utc | 386

Sunny Runny Burger
Thanks for the link.
I am quite interest in quantum computing and how it is progressing now, as it appears to be the next big thing strategically if it can be achieved.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 3:00 utc | 387

karlof1 dennis

The way we act, our individual characters and the way they are formed has interested after watching my children, although brought up in exactly the same environment, form their own unique characters.
I looked up some of the ology's to see if what I had observed, the parts of us that are pre-programmed into our operating system before we are born had a term.
It seems psychologists are are bad as god botherers and put us above all living creatures.
It is loosely termed instinct or innate behaviour in 'lesser' animals but humans don't have it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instinct

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 4:38 utc | 388

From an Oct 2017 article.
https://www.popsci.com/chinas-launches-new-quantum-research-supercenter/
"On 37 hectares (nearly 4 million square feet) in Hefei, Anhui Province, China is building a $10 billion research center for quantum applications. This news comes on the heels of the world's first video call made via quantum-encrypted communications and the completion of a quantum-encrypted fiber optic trunk cable.

The National Laboratory for Quantum Information Sciences, slated to open in 2020, has two major research goals: quantum metrology and building a quantum computer. Both efforts would support military and national defense efforts, as well civilian innovators.

But let's back up. What is quantum metrology, anyway? Basically it measures minute changes in gravity and other physical effects, which can be used to build highly accurate, self-contained navigation systems. This has a key application for autonomous vehicles and submarines, which wouldn't have to rely on GPS or other external navigation signals that could be jammed or used to detect their location."

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 4:54 utc | 389

@ Peter AU 1 #415

"The way we act, our individual characters and the way they are formed has interested after watching my children, although brought up in exactly the same environment, form their own unique characters."

Not to suggest it's more complex than your children, since they can think with cognizance, but animals all have their own personalities too, even when born into exactly the same environment as their siblings. Children forming their's is far more fascinating tho.

I call myself and me here, but there is no self. That's just an imaginary portion of our awarenesses, which are outside our beings, not in. Making everything about us that more convoluted still.

Posted by: aye, myself & me | Sep 26 2019 8:27 utc | 390

aye, myself & me "That's just an imaginary portion of our awarenesses, which are outside our beings, not in"

Rather than an imaginary portion, I veiw it as what we are. Its been called soul, spirit whatever. Most can't come to terms with this part of us ceasing to function and simply gone as if it had never existed once the physical body ceases to function. That's why they're always going to a better place. Going to god, or in cultures with no diety, they are with the spirits ect.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 9:06 utc | 391

In New York Rouhani has held a meeting with US 'foreign policy elites and experts'.
http://www.president.ir/en/111501

A WSJ article saying Trump should trigger the snapback provisions in the nuke deal.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-can-do-even-more-on-iran-11569453117

There is a video at the end of the article. At the 48 second mark there is a short segment of Rouhani speaking at the meeting.
Rouhani...
"The United States wants to fully take control of the region. They say they are bringing in air defence systems. But it is clear they would like to completely take hold of Saudi Arabia's oil."

It would be good to have a transcript of that meeting.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 9:40 utc | 392

Re my post at 419

I have found another couple of videos with the same background setting as in the WSJ video..
It is the Tehran airport and Rouhani spoke to reporters there both before he left and when he arrived back.
Leaving https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lugi74yfYsE (RT no subtitles)

This looks to be pretty much a transcript.
http://www.president.ir/en/111379
"Dr Rouhani added, “The US Secretary of State has been saying irrelevant things in this regard, and it is a historical wonder that a Secretary of State has repeatedly stated inaccurate and incorrect statements”.

The president noted, “The reason for such actions is that the US wants to completely take over the region and take over all the oil in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and this is of course what the US is fighting over with China and others”.

“Americans want to make the most of this opportunity, and they are looking to conclude billion-dollar defence systems contracts with regional countries, indicating that they have other goals for continued presence in the region," Dr Rouhani said."

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 10:15 utc | 393

"Lula's Defense Denied Request to Include Intercept Messages"

"For the magistrate, the conversations leaked by The Intercept were obtained illegally, in private environments of the authorities, without judicial authorization and cannot be used as evidence."

It couldn't be because the "authorities" weren't looking for them.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Lulas-Defense-Denied-Request-to-Include-Intercept-Messages-20190925-0020.html

Posted by: arby | Sep 26 2019 12:10 utc | 394

@Peter AU 1 #416
Quantum metrology sounds like another hole to pour money and effort into.
Yes, quantum metrology can introduce unprecedented accuracy in measurement.
However, gravity isn't a constant in the real world - it is affected by altitude from surface, by the Earth's spin, and by location mass.
The first 2 are basically invariant, although again, at extreme levels of measurement - almost certainly vary.
The last is also not invariant: magma flows, air density/water salinity changes, earthquakes, etc certainly change mass distribution, all the time.
The idea is nice - far from clear it has any realistic hope of success, particularly since it is necessary to use entanglement on the object being studied.
However, having said that, the one use I could see is quantum entangled beacons. But that's not metrology, that's straight beacon triangulation.

Posted by: c1ue | Sep 26 2019 15:43 utc | 395

Peter AU 1 @419-20--

Excellent catches! Will need to review and add to the overall amount of material regarding this week's happenings. Leaders are still speaking at UNGA as we've yet to hear from Lavrov and China's man. The impeachment distraction is exactly that and ought to be called what it really is: A cover up to hide extremely important international developments.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 26 2019 15:56 utc | 396

In Palestinian leader Abbas UNGA Speech, he condemns the behavior of the Outlaw US Empire and then adopts its framing of the legitimate Houthi attack on Saudi as a "terror attack," and thus bites the strongest hand keeping it afloat. Abbas talks about Palestinian democracy, but effectively condemns Hamas's 2006 victory and calls its legitimate 2007 actions a "coup." As The Angry Arab has said year after year, Abbas is truly a two-faced creature who subverts the true interests of all Palestinians and must be replaced.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 26 2019 18:54 utc | 397

Re Trump, war with Iran, and election.

When Iran shot down the US drone, Trump called off a planned strike 'because it would kill 150 Iranians'. With the hit on Saudi Aramco, Trump refuses to order a strike on Iran even though all media and the duopoly are calling for it, saying refraining froma strike is showing american strength.
Trump has now established himself as the president who tries to avoid war.
Perhaps he will do this several more times to further embed the "President trying to avoid war' image in voters minds.
But at anytime, now that the image is established, Trump can launch an attack on Iran in response to anything Iran that outrages the media and duopoly without blowback on himself. The fallout will come back against those constantly calling for strikes on Iran, not the 'president who has done his best to avoid war'.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 21:02 utc | 398

March 2016 interview with Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/us/politics/donald-trump-transcript.html?smid=tw-nytpolitics&smtyp=cur

In the interview, when asked a Syria, he says we should take the oil.
"TRUMP: Well I can only tell you – I can’t tell you, because his strategy, it’s open and it would seem to be fighting ISIS but he’s fighting it in such a limited capacity. I’ve been saying, take the oil. I’ve been saying it for years. Take the oil. They still haven’t taken the oil. They still haven’t taken it. And they hardly hit the oil. They hardly make a dent in the oil."
US now have Syria's oil.

I found the piece when doing some searches to find Trumps earlier views on nuclear weapons.
In most including this interview he say that US must have strong military and strong nuclear forces and then they wont need to be used as other countries will respect America.
Another consistent theme especially on Iran, is that he believes they are desperate to get rid of sanctions and that if enough pressure is put on them they will agree to demands. He has no conception that for some people and peoples, there are things that are non negotiable, areas that have red lines around them.
What happens when Iran does not cave into US demands, even under the unspoken threat of being nuked as the name is specifically inserted into the Nuclear posture review as a non nuclear country against which nuclear weapons may be use.
Another aspect of this is that Trump fully believes that Iran is intent on gaining nuclear weapons to destroy Israel. This is not something put forward as propaganda on his part. This has been his belief for a long time.

The other thought that I have. Trump has been consistent on US having a strong military that is 'respected' by the rest of this world. This so called respect will only be created by making an example of at least one country.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 26 2019 22:13 utc | 399

Peter AU 1 @425--

Although it would certainly be news to the vast majority of those residing within the Outlaw US Empire, Trump is already waging war on Iran & Iran accused him of conducting Economic Terrorism against Iran and of other actions counter to the UN Charter and International Law. We both know that the Empire has waged various forms of warfare against Iran since its 1979 Revolution. What I thought to be Rouhani's most profound statement was the Empire's aim to steal the Saudi's oil from them, something I believe he talked with his Iraqi counterpart about, and perhaps others as he lobbied for his HOPE project. I noticed the Saudis didn't walk out when Rouhani spoke, and they seemed attentive when Zarif further explained HOPE.

I see Kuwait also follows the Imperial diktat that the attack on Aramco's facilities was "terrorist," although there was some independence of thought shown over Palestine. IMO, the remarks were prepared prior to Rouhani's peace and collective security proposal as the speech omits their notice. What's annoying is the lack of an English transcript for Iraq's speech. Looks like the video will need to be heard to determine if Rouhani's proposal is noted. Despite the boiler-plate nature of its speech, Kuwait does seem open to Iran's proposal, although it still remains under the Imperial thumb to a large degree.

Iraq says Daesh was a "plot" and plans to advance the entire region. 40 years of US War against it was genocide and ecocide. Unify efforts to defeat the continuing regional unrest. Definite agreement with Rouhani's HOPE. Aramco attack not mentioned specifically. Condemnation of Zionist annexation plans and "Deal of Century." The message was certainly aimed at TrumpCo.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 26 2019 22:26 utc | 400